Abstract
Background: Many children, in particular girls, do not reach the recommended amount of daily physical activity. School recess provides an opportunity for both boys and girls to be physically active, but barriers to recess physical activity are not well understood. This study explores gender differences in children’s perceptions of barriers to recess physical activity. Based on the socio-ecological model four types of environmental barriers were distinguished: natural, social, physical and organizational environment
Methods: Data were collected through 17 focus groups consisting of 111 children (53 boys) from fourth grade, with a mean age of 10.4 years. The focus groups included an open group discussion, go-along group interviews, and a gender segregated post-it note activity. A content analysis of the post-it notes was used to prioritize the children´s perceived barriers. This was verified by a thematic analysis of data from the open discussions and go-along interviews.
Results: The most frequently identified barriers for both boys and girls were weather, conflicts, lack of space, lack of facilities and a newly-found barrier, use of electronic devices. While boys and girls identifying the same barriers, there were both inter- and intra-gender differences in the children´s perceptions of these barriers. Weather was a barrier for all children, apart from the most active boys. Conflicts were perceived as a barrier particularly for those boys who played ballgames. Girls said they would like to have more secluded areas added to the school playground, even in large schoolyards where lack of space was not a barrier. This aligned with girls’ requests for more “hanging-out” facilities, whereas boys primarily wanted activity promoting facilities. Conclusion: Based on the results from this study, we recommend that recess physical activity should be promoted through a combination of actions, addressing barriers within the natural, social, physical and organizational environment.
Methods: Data were collected through 17 focus groups consisting of 111 children (53 boys) from fourth grade, with a mean age of 10.4 years. The focus groups included an open group discussion, go-along group interviews, and a gender segregated post-it note activity. A content analysis of the post-it notes was used to prioritize the children´s perceived barriers. This was verified by a thematic analysis of data from the open discussions and go-along interviews.
Results: The most frequently identified barriers for both boys and girls were weather, conflicts, lack of space, lack of facilities and a newly-found barrier, use of electronic devices. While boys and girls identifying the same barriers, there were both inter- and intra-gender differences in the children´s perceptions of these barriers. Weather was a barrier for all children, apart from the most active boys. Conflicts were perceived as a barrier particularly for those boys who played ballgames. Girls said they would like to have more secluded areas added to the school playground, even in large schoolyards where lack of space was not a barrier. This aligned with girls’ requests for more “hanging-out” facilities, whereas boys primarily wanted activity promoting facilities. Conclusion: Based on the results from this study, we recommend that recess physical activity should be promoted through a combination of actions, addressing barriers within the natural, social, physical and organizational environment.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Publikationsdato | 11. apr. 2014 |
| Status | Udgivet - 11. apr. 2014 |
| Begivenhed | 5th International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health 2014 - Rio de Janeiro, Brasilien Varighed: 8. apr. 2014 → 11. apr. 2014 |
Konference
| Konference | 5th International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health 2014 |
|---|---|
| Land/Område | Brasilien |
| By | Rio de Janeiro |
| Periode | 08/04/2014 → 11/04/2014 |